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Lawsuit filed in former Steelers player's death
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A lawyer representing the family of former Steelers player Dwight White filed a lawsuit Monday against UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Health System and three UPMC doctors, claiming that negligence and miscommunication led to the famed defensive end's 2008 death.
A UPMC representative could not be reached for comment last night.
Art Schwarzwaelder, the family's lawyer, said that Mr. White was healthy before he had back surgery May 12, 2008, for a herniated disc. He died less than a month later. He was 58.
Mr. Schwarzwaelder said that Mr. White's condition had worsened until his wife took him to an emergency room five days after the surgery, where he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the arteries of the lung. He was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit at UPMC Presbyterian, where he died June 6, 2008.
The doctors named in the wrongful death suit are Joseph Charles Maroon, Matt El-Kadi and Jigme Michael Sethi, said Mr. Schwarzwaelder. Their professional groups are also named.
Mr. White played with the Steelers from 1971 to 1980. As part of the legendary Steel Curtain defense, he helped produce four Super Bowl championships. At the time of his death, he was the senior managing director of public finance for Mesirow Financial's Pittsburgh office.
In addition to his wife, Karen, he is survived by his 28-year-old daughter, Stacey White.
First Published February 2, 2010 12:00 am
